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QUINCEY HODGES1Duke can still win a national championship without Kyrie Irving, but his injury changes everything. Irving was a dynamic presence on both ends of the floor for the Blue Devils. Without him, they’ll have to make at least one drastic change.
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Mark Dolejs-US PRESSWIREWithout Kyrie Irving in uniform, the top-ranked Blue Devils will need to make some changes.Duke must play more like last season’s Blue Devils than this year’s version. Irving makes Duke more athletic at the point, giving it the ability to run an offensive set by simply spreading the floor and allowing him to create off various high ball screens. With shooters spread all over the floor, Irving gives the defense a couple of options, neither of them good. Defenders can go under the screen — allowing him to beat you with his jumper. Go over the screen and he will penetrate and kick, trap or "blast" the screen and look for Mason Plumlee rolling to the hoop. In other words, no matter how you pick your poison, generally there are no great options for the defense.
Additionally, Irving is a long-armed, quick and heady on-ball defender. Unlike last season, when Duke forced you to make shots over the top and played a more help-oriented defense, this team has gotten back to relying on guard pressure, with quality shot blockers like the Plumlees also generating transition offense off the defense.
Without Irving, Duke must go back to more sets and a true half-court offense in order to be a national title threat. Nolan Smith, Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry all have tremendous scoring skills, but they are not nearly as gifted at breaking down defenses as Irving.
Though they have some point guard skills, none of the three are close to being true point guards and, frankly, none are as dynamic on defense in terms of on-the-ball pressure. The Blue Devils will still play fast, can still play small (with Kyle Singler at the 4) and should still win a down ACC. (There are currently no other ranked teams in the conference.) But in order to truly be elite without Irving, they need to look at the 2009-10 championship blueprint.
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QUINCEY HODGES1Duke can still win a national championship without Kyrie Irving, but his injury changes everything. Irving was a dynamic presence on both ends of the floor for the Blue Devils. Without him, they’ll have to make at least one drastic change.
[+] EnlargeMark Dolejs-US PRESSWIREWithout Kyrie Irving in uniform, the top-ranked Blue Devils will need to make some changes.Duke must play more like last season’s Blue Devils than this year’s version. Irving makes Duke more athletic at the point, giving it the ability to run an offensive set by simply spreading the floor and allowing him to create off various high ball screens. With shooters spread all over the floor, Irving gives the defense a couple of options, neither of them good. Defenders can go under the screen — allowing him to beat you with his jumper. Go over the screen and he will penetrate and kick, trap or "blast" the screen and look for Mason Plumlee rolling to the hoop. In other words, no matter how you pick your poison, generally there are no great options for the defense.
Additionally, Irving is a long-armed, quick and heady on-ball defender. Unlike last season, when Duke forced you to make shots over the top and played a more help-oriented defense, this team has gotten back to relying on guard pressure, with quality shot blockers like the Plumlees also generating transition offense off the defense.
Without Irving, Duke must go back to more sets and a true half-court offense in order to be a national title threat. Nolan Smith, Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry all have tremendous scoring skills, but they are not nearly as gifted at breaking down defenses as Irving.
Though they have some point guard skills, none of the three are close to being true point guards and, frankly, none are as dynamic on defense in terms of on-the-ball pressure. The Blue Devils will still play fast, can still play small (with Kyle Singler at the 4) and should still win a down ACC. (There are currently no other ranked teams in the conference.) But in order to truly be elite without Irving, they need to look at the 2009-10 championship blueprint.
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